The awareness of sufferings, empathy and altruistic behaviors: A correctional analysis of medical students

• Main Author: 郭瑜讌
• Other Authors: 張利中
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/10812727020171641060

碩士 === 東海大學 === 宗教研究所 === 98 === The purpose of this study was to explore the dimensions of awareness which college students have toward the sufferings of other people. Additionally, this study aimed to investigate the relationships among awareness of suffering, empathy, and helping behaviors of medical and general college students. Research participants were recruited from one general university and one medical university. A total of 356 college students completed the following instruments measuring the awareness of suffering, religiosity, empathy, and helping behavior. It was found that the average age of the present sample is 21.81. Female students have higher tendency toward all of the sub-scales of religiosity and caring and empathy toward those in sufferings. Medical students, overall, demonstrated less degree of religiosity and tend to be harsh and critical toward those who suffered. It was also found that dimensions of awareness of suffering, after controlling for age and religiosity, are valid predictors of students’ various domains of empathy and helping behaviors. Canonical correlation analyses revealed two significant canonical paths. The first path is indicative of meaning of life, belief in karma. The second path is composed of black magic, personal level of faith, belief in karma, and belief in after-life. Implications for medical education and future studies were discussed.